Miracle Nipples - How do I use them and what size might I need?

Miracle Nipples are a specialised feeding tool designed to mimic the natural nursing experience. It is particularly helpful for feeding orphaned puppies and kittens or supplementary feeding. They are an essential tool in a breeders kit.

Note:

• Please remember to ensure pups are toileted both prior to feeding and after.
• Please ensure you do not push down on the plunger as this increases the risks of aspiration.
• If the teat becomes blocked, ensure the teat is removed from the puppy/kittens mouth prior to clearing the blockage.

Key Features of the Miracle Nipple

• The teat is manufactured from soft and durable silicone which feels similar to a mothers teat. This provides comfort and a natural nursing experience.
• The teat has a pre-made hole. This reduces the risk of aspiration as it allows precise control over milk flow.
• The shape of the Miracle Nipple allows puppies and kittens to knead as they drink - a natural feeding action which provides security and reduces stress.  The tapered nature of the Miracle Nipple base also enables varying sized animals mouths to form the best suction while suckling. 
• The Miracle Nipple fits onto syringes which enables a precise volume of milk to be fed.  

How to Use the Miracle Nipple - No Air in Syringe

1. Choose an appropriately sized Miracle Nipple for the puppy or kitten. Kittens will require either a Mini or Original Miracle Nipple while puppies will require a Small Puppy or Large Puppy Miracle Nipple.
2. Choose an appropriately sized Luer Lock Syringe for the quantity of milk required.
3. Ensure the syringe and nipple are clean and sterilised.
4. Mix the milk replacer as per manufacturers instructions. Ensure the milk formula is warm (approximately 35 to 37.8 degrees Celsius).
5. Draw up the required volume of milk in the syringe
6. Attach the Miracle Nipple by pushing it onto the syringe. Remove the air from the syringe by pointing the syringe upwards and depressing the plunger until milk comes out.
7. Place the puppy or kitten into a sternal feeding position (stomach down). Do not feed them on their backs as this increases the risk of aspiration.
8. Stabilise the puppy or kittens head by supporting them under the jaw and introduce the Miracle Nipple to the lips. Doing this with a small drop of milk on the nipple will encourage the pup/kitten to latch on to the nipple. 
9. Once the pup/kitten has latched onto the Miracle Nipple, there is no need to push the plunger. The plunger should suck down itself through the vacuum created in the barrel. You can find a video here showing the pup pulling the plunger down HERE
10. Once the pup or kitten has finished feeding, move the nipple to the side of  their mouths to break the vacuum caused by feeding. Once the vacuum has been broken, remove the nipple from the pup/kittens mouth.

How to Use the Miracle Nipple - Air in the Syringe

This method of feeding is successfully utilised by many breeders, especially for pups who are struggle to suck the plunger on the syringe down.

Note: It is important to ensure the pup does not intake air as this will cause discomfort. Careful monitoring of the syringe is necessary.

Steps 1 to 5 above remain the same. However instead of removing air from the syringe, the next step once the required quantity of milk is drawn up, is to add air to the syringe. This allows air bubbles to go into the syringe while the pup is feeding and avoids the necessity for the plunger to depress. You can find a video showing this process HERE

• Attach the Miracle Nipple by pushing it onto the syringe. Introduce a small amount of air into the syringe. 
• Ensure the syringe is held on an angle that results in the air being at the top of the syringe so the pup is not sucking air into their stomachs. 
• Continue with step 7 as above.

What Sized Miracle Nipple Do I Need?

Miracle Nipples come in four sizes

• Mini
• Original
• Small Puppy
• Large Puppy

Preference for the size of Miracle Nipples used, even within the same breeds, can vary. For instance some Chihuahua breeders have expressed a preference for the use Mini or Original nipples, while others will use Small or even Large Puppy Miracle Nipples. As a general guide, the following sizes have been preferred by breeders, vets and rescues.

Mini and Original Miracle Nipples

• Kittens and pups under 100g

Small Puppy Miracle Nipples

• Puppies between 100g to 300g (small to medium breeds)

Large Puppy Miracle Nipples

• Pups from 300g upwards (medium to large breeds)

Helpful Tips

• On occasion the rubber in the neck of the Miracle Nipple can stretch which can result in the Nipple falling off the syringe. While this does not happen often, if it does happen, try using an EnFit syringe  instead of a Luer Lock. The head on the EnFit syringe is threaded and slightly bigger so will be a better fit for a stretched Miracle Nipple.
• Miracle Nipples can be used with bottles. The Mini and Original Miracle Nipples can be used with a Pet Nurser Bottle while the Small and Large Puppy Nipples can be used with the Nutricair Teat Ring and Bottles.
• Miracle Nipples are best washed in warm soapy water and stored out of direct light. 
• Keeping the puppy/kitten as warm as well as ensuring the milk is warm (approximately 35 to 37.8 degrees Celsius) is important as it will be easier to digest and will not reduce the puppy/kittens temperature. 
• Enough milk can be made up for 24 hours if stored in the fridge. However once milk has been re-heated it should be disposed of and can not be re-stored.